Rotary explosive-engine.



c. R. CARPENTER.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGIN E. APPLICATION FILED APR.27. 915.

1 1 77,380. PafentedMar. 28, 1916.

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attorney C. R. CARPENTER.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

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Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

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C R CARPENTER ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

.APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1915.

' to operate the gates.

is to impart to the rotor an impulse through the greatest possible prorarnnr rare.

ROTAB'?! EXIPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. CARPEN- rnn, citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and Stateof'California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRotary Explosive-Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to rotary internal explosive engines having twincylinders firing at intervals, thus producing impulses to a common shaftat diiferent points and having no dead center.

The object in view is to produce laterally moving fluid pressureoperated gates utilizing the exhaust gases to operate the. gates in onedirection and acommon fluid pressure supply to operatethe'gates in "theother direction.

Another object is to minimize the cost by simplicity of construction andproduce increased efficiency by utilizing the expansive power in theexhaust that is ordinarily lost,

" A further ob ect portion of its rotation, by the prompt movement ofthe gates, said movement being produced by energy ordinarily lost and byuse of said power for movement to the gates, the rotor is relieved ofsaid duty and increased efficiency is attained.

These and other objects in view will appear in the description and beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved engineshowing the fluid pressure tank in elevation and the fuel generator insection. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the engine. takenon the line of the main or power shaft. Fig. 3 is a vertical transversesection taken centrally through one of the rotor casings, showing therotor and the gate in section with the near porti n of the cas ngremoved, showing the attaching flange of the adjoining portion inelevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section showing one of therotor casings in elevation and its exhaust chamber in section showingits communication with the gate cas ng. and also showing the fuel inletports. Fig; 5 is a similar view to more fully illustrate the slide valvefor fuel control with-the gate casing in section. Fig. 6

Specification of Letters Patent.

is a detail view of the slide valve casing, and F g. 7 1s a detail viewof the slide valve. Similar numerals indicate corresponding PatentedMar. 28, itfiifi.

Application filed. April 27, 1915. Serial No. 24,371.

parts in all the figures of the drawings, in I which-- 1 is the bedplate, preferably of cast metal and for convenience in construction,said bed plate is formed in three parts each provided with attachingflanges 2 extending up from the face of the bed plate, said flangesbeing provided with recesses 3 in which rest, when the parts areassembled, the attaching flanges iof the rotor casings 5, said rotorcasings being formed in two sections as is the usual practice in devicesof this character, each section carrying alining integral housings 6,provided with any preferred 1 form of oiling means such as ,oil cups 7adapted to supply a lubricant to the shaft 8 mounted for rotary movementin the houslugs.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the inner casing sections have cast or formedintegral therewith directly beneath the housings, a portion of the gatecasing, as shown at 9, said portion being provided with attachingflanges 10, to which the central portion 11 of the gate easing which isalso provided with at taching flanges is secured.

By' this construction, it will be seen that the parts are convenientlycast and machined and finally assembled with all the parts firmly boltedtogether and being securely bolted down, as shown at 12, the device willpossess the firm and rigid construction otherwise formed only when thecasings are cast in one piece, yet possessing all the conveniencesincident to a construction where the parts are accessible, convenientfor shipment, as well as for prompt replacement.

Mounted rigidly on the shaft within the casings are rotors having thecentral disk portion 13 mounted on the shaft, the head 14:

projectingfrom the disk portion and adapt- (not shown) if a fluidpressure chamber 17,.which is at all trons of the rotor casings areprovided with in cross section and has slidably m ounted' therein forlateral movement, the]; gates, there being sufficient distance betweenthe inner ends of the gate members to provide times in opencommunication with the fluid pressure tank 18, through pipe 19 (Fig. 1),said pipe 19 being provided at 20 with a pressure indicator adapted tomaintain a pressure of approximately twenty pounds in the pressurechamber.

The gates 21 consist of the vertically disposed plate portion 22,adapted to be advanced with the plate portion 22 resting in grooves 23formed in the casing across the cylindrical portion of the casing,entirely closing same.

The plate 22 is solid for a width equal to the cross section of the boreof the casing and is provided with a port or passage 24 through whichthe exhaust gases delivered through the exhaust passage 15 may pass andact-upon the entire surface of the disk portion 25 of the gate to forcethe plate por tion 22 back out of its position across the casing. A disk26 having, as does the disk 25, a sliding fit within the gate casing, isspaced by post 27 from disk 25 a distance approximate-lythat of thethrow of the gate and is adapted to be acted on to give the gate. itsforward movement by fluid pres sure in chamber 17, the end walls of saidchamber 17 being formedv by the disks 26 and against which a constantpressure is maintained.

Exhaust ports 28 are provided in the gate casing in such a position inrelation to the throw of the gates as to provide means of exit for theexhaust gases, when the gate is retracted. said port leading into theexhaust manifold 28 the disk 25 in its movement passing beyond the port28 to allow the exhaust gases to escape, but when the gate is forward.as shown in theposition to the right of Fig. 2, it will be seen thatdisk 26.

never advances beyond said 'port 28 and' therefore prevents thecscape ofpressure maintained in chamber 17.

To insure proper timing in the operation of the gate under varyingconditions of load. spring pressed triggers 29 are provided toautomatically engage near plate 22, the

edge of rings 25 in their retracted position,

maintaining them in said position and from which they are released bytripping fingers 30 mounted. on adjustable annular rings 31 securedtothe shaft 8, said annular rings also carrying brushes 32 for closingthe circuit and producing the firing spark.

Oil cups 33 are provided for the lubirica- 1 tion of the gates andpacking" rings (not shown) may be provided. in the diskinem-l bers25 and26 ofthe gates to prevent lea-k age if found necessary.

By reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will through .pipe' 42 and port 43.vA valve-3T having a hollow portion 38, a solid portion 39 and anoperating arm 40 extending through slot 41 in the valve casing, isadapted to be adjusted within the valve casing to permit fuel enteringthe valve casing through port 43 to pass along through the hollowportion 38 of the valve and through more or less of the inlet ports 35into the explosion chamber.

over more or less of the ports 35', the quantity of fuel admitted-to thecasing is controlledt At each revolution of the rotor in the directionindicated by the arrow, whenthe cut-away portion34 of the rotor passesbeneath the inlet ports 35 in the casing, the port or ports not coveredby the portion 39 of the valve form a direct communication from pipe 42through port 43, hollow By the adjustment of slide valve 37 to bringportion 39 thereof;

portion 38 of the valve, throughsaid port? or ports and cut-away portionto the explosion chamber.

The lever 40 is secured to a, rotary frame 44 made up of connected bandsencircling.

the inner housing 6 of the casing, said frame being ad ustable in arotary manner on the housing by the lever 45 secured to the outer end.of the arm 46 which extends from the frame 44. v

- Mounted on the rotatably adjustable frame ,44 are contact points inthe electric ignition. circuit in such a position as to form a gap insaid circuit. but so arranged that the brush 32 carried by the ring 31will at the proper time in the rotation of the shaft 8, close said gapand complete the circuit to form a spark for ignition at the spark plugshown at 46.

The circuit closure or contact points. as

above noted. are mounted on the adjustable frame 44 and are thereforemoved in such a manner as to advance or retard the spark 47 supplies thefluid explosive mixture through pipe 48, said pipe being providedwith agovernor 49 to electrically control the supply of fuel.

A shaft 50 mounted on the engine base parallel with'the main shaft, isdriven by chain 51, operating over sprocket wheel 52 on the main shaftand sprocket wheel 53 on shaft'50, said shaft 50 being utilized as acommon power shaft for the water pump 5% to circulate through piping a'cooling medium for the rotor casings, said shaft also operating themagneto 56 and an air compressor 57, the latterthrough pipe 58 lead ingto tank 18 maintaining the desired pres sure therein. Any Otherpreferredmeans may be employed to transfer power to shaft 50.

The operatio which appears to be obvious is in part as f llows: The fuelis admitted through one or'more of the ports to the explosion chamber59, said chamber being formed between the rotor head 1,4: and theportion 22 of the gate, which at that time rests across the casingentirely closing all communication with the chamber beyond said gate andproducing a stationary backing against which the expansion in the fueldue to the explosion may take effect in forcing the rotor head aroundthe casing. The gate "remains in the position above referred to untilthe edge of the rotor head passes the exhaust port 16.: By thisconstruction, the

gases are expanded until their pressure is only sufficient to operatethe abutment,-thereby utilizing their energy to the fullest extentpossible. When port 16- is uncovered by the rotor head, the exhaustgases will at the head le-passes, when the pressure maintained at alltimes inchamber 17 will in contact with disk 26. force the gate, backinto its initial position.

A single port mav be used in place of ports the slide valve 37 coveringmore or less of said port when adjusted. also other minor changes mav beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The exhaust of chamber 5 takes place At the extreme while the gases arestill under sufficient pressure to operate the gate against the fluidpressure in chamber 1-7, and upon its release through port-28, theoutward rush or inertia of said gases, backed up by the forward movementof therotor head from the point at which exhaust port 16 is uncovered,to the point at which it passes the abutment, not only relieves thepressure in the casing but rarefies the pressure in the casingto such anextent that sufficient pressure is not established within the casing inadvance of the rotor head on its next rotation, to overcome the fluidpressure in chamber 17 and move the abutment from. its forward position.

lVith the proper timing of trip 29 to release disk 25 and cover exhaustport 28 i1nmediately after exhaust gases are allowed to escape, apartial vacuum wili be set up in the casing in advance of the head 14,and while this partial vacuum may be slowly dispeiled inthe eventthe'engineceases to rotate, it will be maintained a sufiicient length oftime when the engine is running.

lVhatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Inarotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotors movablein said chambers and connected to a concentric rotating shaft, gatesmovable to and from said chambers and connected to a concentricrotatingshaft, gates movable to and from a position across the chambers, aseries of inlet ports for fuel gas covered and uncovered by the rotors,valves controlling admission of gas to the inlet ports, fluid pressuremeans for forcing the gates in one direction and means whereby theexhaust gases force the gates'in the other direction.

.3. In a rotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotorsmovablein 1 said chambers and connected to a concentric rotating shaft,gates movable to and from a position across the chambers, a series. ofinlet ports for fuel gas covered and uncovered by the rotors,valvescontrolling admission of gas to the inlet ports, means to admitfluid pressure between the gates to force them across the chambers andmeans whereby the exhaust gases retract thegates.

4:. In a rotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotorsmovablein said chambers and connected to a concentric rotating shaft,gates movable to and from a position across the chambers, a seriesofinlet ports for fuel gas covered and uncovered by the rotors,valves-controlling admission of gas to the inlet ports, means to admitfluid pressure between the gates to force said gates across the chambersalternately and means whereby the exhaust gases of each chamber retractthe gate operating therein.

5. Ina rotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotorsmovable in said chambers and connected to a concentric rotary shaft,gates movable to and from po sition across said annular chambers, ex--twin annular chambers,rrotors movable in said chambers and connected toa concern tric rotary shaft, gates movable to and from position acrosssaid annular chambers, eX-- plosion chambers adjacent said gates, a

4 series of fuel inlet ports, slide valves adapt ed to close'more orless of the ports, and

' means for opening and closing communication between the ,ports and theexplosion chambers. i

7 Ina rotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotorsmovable in said chambers and connected to a concentric rotary shaft,gates movable to and from position across said annular chambers,

explosion chambers-adjacent said gates, a

series ofjfuel inlet ports, slide valves adapted to close more or lessof the ports, and

means carried by the rotors within the annular' chambers opening-andclosing. com

munication between the ports and the explosion chambers. I v

3 8. In a rotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotorshaving cen" tral disk portions and head portions movable in the chambersand connected to a concentric rotary shaft, gates vmovable to and fromposition across the annular chambers, explosion chambers between saidhead por tion of the rotors and the gates when across the annularchambers, fuel inlet ports communicating with the explosion chambers,the inlet ports being closed by the disk portions of the rotors duringpart of their rotation.

9. In a rotary'motor, the combination of twin annular chambers. rotorshaving central disk portions and .head portions movable in the chambersand connected to a concentric rotary shaft, gates slidable in oppositedirections within a casin between the annular chambers, fluid pressureadmitted to the casing between the gates-to advance the gates acrosstheannular chambers and retracting the gates.

14. In a rotary motor, the combination of 1 form explosion chambersbetween said gates and said head portion of the rotors, andv centricrotary shaft, gates slidable laterally within a casing between theannular chambers beneath the rotary shaft, means be-.

tween the gates to advance them alternately in opposite directionsacross the. annular chambers, explosion chambers formed inthe annularchambers between the head portions of the rotors and the gates, fuelinlet ports communicating with the explosion chambers, and meanswithin'the annular chambers to open the inlet ports during part of therotation of the rotors. I

11. In a rotary motor, the combination of 'twin annular chambers, rotorsmovable in.

said chambers and connected to a concentric rotary shaft, gates slidablymounted in a casing between the annular chambers for alternate oppositemovement across the chambers, a common means .for advancing the gates inopposite directions, explosion chambers formed in the annular chambersbetween the rotors and the gates, fuel inlet.

ports communicating with the explosion by pressure in excess I of the.advancing means.

12. In a rotary motor, the combination of twin annular chambers, rotorsmovable in,

said chambers and connected to a concen: tric rotary shaft, gatesslidably mounted in a casing between the annular chambers for alternateopposite movement across the twin annular c ambers, rotors movable insaid chambers and connected to a concentric rotary shaft, gates slidablymounted in I chambers, and means for retracting the gates I ioochambers, a common means for advancing the gates n opposite directions,explosion.

casing between the annular chambers for alternate opposite movementacross the chambers, a common means for advancingthe gates in oppositedirections, explosion chambers formed in the annular chambers betweenthe rotors and the gates, fuel inlet popts pommunicating with -theexplosion chambers, and exhaust passages connecting the exhaust portsand the gate casing for casing between the annular chambers foralternate opposlte movement across the chambers, a common meansfor.advancing the gates in opposite directions, explosion 5 chambers formedin theiannular chambers between the rotors and the gates, fuel inletports communicating with the explosion chambers, exhaust ports in theannular casings, and exhaust passages connecting the exhaust ports andthe gate casings to admit the exhaust gases into the casing and retractthe gates/ In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES R. CARPENTER.

